Extendscript/Exchange installation process

Report · Nov 29, 2022

Hi, I'm a semi-amateur developer who publishes a number of utility scripts for Bridge. I do have a listing on Exchange but it is WAY out of date, and my current versions are for the time being distributed on my Dropbox instead. This is mainly due to what I find to be an awkward and difficult official install process with zxp files and submitting updates.

My main software is a script utility pack which is all in one folder, that is simply dropped into the Bridge Scripts folder. I also have a number of other specialized utilities, demos, and snippets that a user can install individually if they want.

My suggestion is to overhaul the installation process and make it dead simple for both developers and end users to install from Exchange, especially when manual installation is simply drag and drop.

For those interested Bridge users, my Dropbox link is https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mg817g9a9ymbasi/AADTmXUVxmFfM58bcyYE7yiwa?dl=0

Report · Dec 01, 2022

I'm not sure when the last time was that you may have tried to install something from the Exchange, but in the last two years there have been many improvements. Installing ZXPs through the Creative Cloud desktop app via the "Stock & Marketplace" tab is currently pretty smooth; the end user never needs to touch the ZXP file.

It's also possible to upload ZIP files to the Exchange, but you would need to ask users to move scripts to the correct folder.
If you include an MXI file in your ZXP, you can get the scripts to automatically be installed in the Scripts folder. Read more about this process in these two articles:
- https://blog.developer.adobe.com/how-to-customize-your-adobe-creative-cloud-extension-package-1aba61...
- https://blog.developer.adobe.com/lightroom-classic-plugin-support-for-the-adobe-exchange-for-creativ...

We're also in the process of rebuilding the Exchange submission portal. In 2023 the process of submitting should significantly improve (there is no launch date at the time of this writing).

Report · Dec 01, 2022

I'll take another look. One of the Adobe employees had emailed me to offer help with packaging my scripts but looking through the process, I decided it was a little beyond what I wanted to wade into. I honestly don't do much with the Exchange marketplace so I'm not that familiar with any changes.